Reasons to raise a lowered base ability

[FlyingKites]

For example, lowering strength at character creation but raising it at level four or later.

Does anybody do this? I can only think it could be done to have earlier access to some feats and then choosing feats later on after raising those abilities. I take the approach that I am going to ignore those abilities that are lowered.

[haze1103]

You should have another dump stat that you don't care about. If you're so stretched that you need to raise a dump stat to complete your build, your character is probably trying to do too much

[Eidein]

Most optimised builds have a stat thats 15 or higher.

[Vokial]

This is completely Normal. Most of your stats only need to reach enough for you to allow the selection of certain feats. Strafe for example need 5 DEX and 5 AGI. Wielding a Sniper Rifle requires 5 STR.

I buffed WIL from 3 to 5 early at reaching level 8 in order to get MT to effective 140 and TM to 150. Some Temporal buffs/debuffs reach their maximum potential + lowest risk of self-Dilation at this number and Thermodynamic Destabilization gets maxed at 100%. These are the only spells I use, but getting those effective skill numbers would've required a lot more points with WILL at 3 and could've only reach it by level 28 otherwise. Also Social skills would've hurt badly. With 5 WIL you can get good Social skills that are also complimented with an additional +30 points with the use of Hypno Goggles (5 WIL requirement) and also acquire the special perk that increases your psi range, wearing a Tchortist Noble robe at a certain point in Expedition (to bump your WIL to 6, which is the requirement). So all in all, having that 5 WIL was worth it for me as a Psi-Sniper.